UJehova Wenza Abantu Bakhe Babe Bahle Ngokukhanya

“Vuka ukhanye [“wena wesifazane,” “NW”], ngokuba ukukhanya kwakho kuyeza; inkazimulo kaJehova iphumela phezu kwakho.”—ISAYA 60:1.

1, 2. (a) Isintu sikusiphi isimo? (b) Ubani obangela ubumnyama esintwini?

“O, ukube nje besino-Isaya noma uSanta uPawulu!” Wabalisa kanjalo umongameli wase-United States uHarry Truman kudala ngawo-1940. Kungani asho lawo mazwi? Ngoba wayebona isidingo sabaholi abaqotho nabanezimiso eziphakeme ngesikhathi sakhe. Izwe lalisanda kudlula nje enkathini emnyama yekhulu lama-20, impi yezwe yesibili. Yize impi yayisidlulile, izwe lalingenakho ukuthula. Ubumnyama baqhubeka. Empeleni, nakuba sekudlule iminyaka engu-57 leyo mpi yaphela, izwe lisesebumnyameni. Ukube uMongameli uTruman ubesaphila nanamuhla, akungabazeki ukuthi ubesayosibona isidingo sabaholi abaqotho nabanezimiso ezifuze ezika-Isaya noma umphostoli uPawulu.

² Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi uMongameli uTruman wayekwazi yini lokhu noma cha, umphostoli uPawulu wakhuluma ngobumnyama obukhathaza isintu, futhi waxwayisa ngabo emibhalweni yakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, waxwayisa ayekholwa nabo: “Asibambene negazi nenyama kodwa nawohulumeni, namagunya, nababusi bezwe balobubumnyama, nendikimba yomoya ababi esezindaweni zasezulwini.” (Efesu 6:12) Ngala mazwi, uPawulu wabonisa ukuthi wayengagcini nje ngokwazi ubumnyama obungokomoya obugubuzele izwe kodwa wayazi nokuthi buvelaphi ngempela—ezindikimbeni ezinamandla zezingelosi ezichazwe ngokuthi “ababusi bezwe.” Njengoba ubumnyama bezwe bubangelwa imimoya enamandla, abantu abavamile yini abangayenza ukuze babuqede?

3. Naphezu kobumnyama obukhungekhe isintu, u-Isaya wabikezelani ngabathembekileyo?

³ No-Isaya wakhuluma ngobumnyama obukhungethe isintu. (Isaya 8:22; 59:9) Kodwa ekhuluma ngesikhathi sethu singakafiki, wabikezela ephefumulelwe ukuthi ngisho nakulezi zikhathi zobumnyama, uJehova wayeyokhanyisa umbono walabo abathanda ukukhanya. Yebo, yize singenabo oPawulu no-Isaya ngokoqobo, sinayo imibhalo yabo ephefumulelwe yokusiqondisa. Ukuze sibone ukuthi kuyisibusiso kangakanani lokho kulabo abathanda uJehova, ake sihlole amazwi ayisiprofetho ka-Isaya asesahlukweni 60 sencwadi yakhe.

Owesifazane Ongokwesiprofetho Ukhipha Ukukhanya

4, 5. (a) UJehova uthi makenzeni owesifazane, futhi uthembisani? (b) Isahluko 60 sika-Isaya sinakuphi ukwaziswa okujabulisayo?

⁴ Amazwi okuqala ka-Isaya 60 abhekiswe kowesifazane osesimweni esidabukisa kakhulu—usebumnyameni, ulele já phansi. Kungazelelwe, ukukhanya kuhlaba ebumnyameni, uJehova abese ememeza: “Vuka ukhanye [“wena wesifazane,” NW], ngokuba ukukhanya kwakho kuyeza; inkazimulo kaJehova iphumela phezu kwakho.” (Isaya 60:1) Sesifikile isikhathi sokuba lona wesifazane asukume abonakalise ukukhanya kukaNkulunkulu, inkazimulo yaKhe. Ngani? Impendulo siyithola evesini elilandelayo: “Bheka, ubumnyama buyasibekela umhlaba, nesigayegaye abantu; kepha uJehova  uyaphuma phezu kwakho, nenkazimulo yakhe iyakubonakala phezu kwakho.” (Isaya 60:2) Lapho lona wesifazane ewulalela umyalo kaJehova, uyaqinisekiswa ukuthi kuyoba nomphumela omuhle. UJehova uthi: “Izizwe ziyakuhamba ekukhanyeni kwakho, namakhosi ekukhazimuleni kokuphuma kwakho.”—Isaya 60:3.

⁵ La mazwi ajabulisayo akula mavesi amathathu ethula futhi afingqe konke okuqukethwe u-Isaya isahluko 60. Abikezela lokho okuzokwenzeka kowesifazane ongokwesiprofetho, achaze nokuthi singahlala kanjani ekukhanyeni kukaJehova naphezu kobumnyama obukhungethe isintu. Kodwa isho ukuthini imifuziselo ekula mavesi amathathu okuqala?

6. Ubani owesifazane okukhulunywa ngaye ku-Isaya isahluko 60, futhi umelelwa ubani emhlabeni?

⁶ Owesifazane okukhulunywa ngaye ku-Isaya 60:1-3 yiSiyoni, inhlangano kaJehova yasezulwini yezidalwa zomoya. Namuhla, iSiyoni limelelwa insali ‘ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu’ emhlabeni, ibandla lomhlaba wonke lamaKristu agcotshwe ngomoya, anethemba lokubusa noKristu ezulwini. (Galathiya 6:16) Lesi sizwe esingokomoya sigcina sinamalungu angu-144 000, futhi ukugcwaliseka kwanamuhla kuka-Isaya isahluko 60 kugxile kulabo abaphila emhlabeni phakathi ‘nezinsuku zokugcina.’ (2 Thimothewu 3:1; IsAmbulo 14:1) Kuningi esikushoyo lesi siprofetho nangabangane bala maKristu agcotshiwe, “isixuku esikhulu” ‘sezinye izimvu.’—IsAmbulo 7:9; Johane 10:16.

7. Lalinjani iSiyoni ngo-1918, futhi lokhu kwakubikezelwe kanjani?

⁷ Saba khona yini isikhathi “u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu” ayelele ngaso ebumnyameni, njengoba kufanekiselwa yilowo wesifazane ongokwesiprofetho? Yebo, lokhu kwenzeka eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-80 edlule. Phakathi nempi yezwe yokuqala, amaKristu agcotshiwe awa evuka ukuze umsebenzi wokufakaza uqhubeke. Kodwa ngo-1918, unyaka impi eyaphela ngawo, umsebenzi wokushumayela okuhlelekile wacishe wama. UJoseph F. Rutherford, owayengamele umsebenzi wokushumayela emhlabeni wonke ekanye namanye amaKristu avelele, bagwetshwa isikhathi eside ejele ngamacala aqanjiwe. Encwadini yesAmbulo, amaKristu agcotshiwe ayesemhlabeni ngaleso sikhathi áchazwa ngokwesiprofetho ngokuthi izidumbu ezidindilize “endleleni ebanzi yomuzi omkhulu lowo ngomqondo ongokomoya obizwa ngokuthi iSodoma neGibithe.”  (IsAmbulo 11:8) Ngempela kwakuyisikhathi esimnyama leso ngeSiyoni, njengoba limelelwa abantwana balo abagcotshiwe emhlabeni!

8. Yiluphi ushintsho olukhulu olwenzeka ngo-1919, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela?

⁸ Kodwa ngonyaka ka-1919 kwenzeka ushintsho olukhulu. UJehova walikhanyisela iSiyoni! Abaseleyo baka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu basukuma babonakalisa ukukhanya kukaNkulunkulu, baphinde baqala ukumemezela izindaba ezinhle ngesibindi. (Mathewu 5:14-16) Ngenxa yentshiseko entsha yala maKristu, nabanye badonselwa ekukhanyeni kukaJehova. Laba ababesanda kufika bagcotshwa njengamalungu okwenezela ku-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu. Ku-Isaya 60:3 babizwa ngamakhosi, ngoba bazoba izindlalifa kanye noKristu eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini. (IsAmbulo 20:6) Kamuva, isixuku esikhulu sezinye izimvu saqala ukudonselwa ekukhanyeni kukaJehova. Lezi “izizwe” okukhulunywe ngazo esiprofethweni.

Abantwana Bowesifazane Babuyela Ekhaya!

9, 10. (a) Iyiphi into emangalisayo ebonwa owesifazane, futhi lokhu kwakufanekiselani? (b) ISiyoni lalinasiphi isizathu sokuthokoza?

⁹ Manje, uJehova uqala ukucacisa lokho okushiwo ku-Isaya 60:1-3. Unikeza owesifazane omunye umyalo. Lalela ukuthi uthini: “Phakamisa amehlo akho nxazonke, ubone”! Owesifazane uyalalela, futhi yeka into ethinta inhliziyo ayibonayo! Abantwana bakhe beza ekhaya. Umbhalo uqhubeka uthi: “Babuthana bonke, beza kuwe; amadodana akho ayakuvela kude, namadodakazi akho ayakuphathwa ngezingalo.” (Isaya 60:4) Ukumemezela ngoMbuso okwaqala ngo-1919 emhlabeni kwadonsela izinkulungwane zabanye abasha ekukhonzeni uJehova. Nalaba baba “amadodana” “namadodakazi” eSiyoni, amalungu agcotshiwe ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu. Kanjalo, uJehova uye walenza laba lihle iSiyoni ngokuletha abokugcina babangu-144 000 ekukhanyeni.

¹⁰ Cabanga indlela iSiyoni elijabula ngayo ngokuba nabantwana balo! Kodwa, uJehova unika iSiyoni ezinye izizathu zokujabula. Siyafunda: “Khona uyakubona, ukhazimule; inhliziyo yakho iyakugquma, yanuleke, ngokuba ingcebo yolwandle iyakuphendulelwa kuwe, nemfuyo yezizwe iyakuza kuwe.” (Isaya 60:5) Ngokuvumelana nalawo mazwi esiprofetho, kusukela ngawo-1930, izixuku zamaKristu anethemba lokuphila emhlabeni phakade ziye zathuthelekela eSiyoni. Zivela “olwandle” lwesintu esihlukanisiwe noNkulunkulu, futhi zifanekisela imfuyo yezizwe. ‘Zingokunxanelekayo kwabezizwe.’ (Hagayi 2:7; Isaya 57:20) Phawula nokuthi lokhu “okunxanelekayo” akuvele nje kukhonze uJehova ngendlela ngakunye okuthanda ngayo. Cha, kunezela ebuhleni beSiyoni ngokuyokhulekela nabafowabo abagcotshiwe, kube “mhlambi munye, namalusi munye” nabo.—Johane 10:16.

Abathengisi, Abelusi Nabahwebi Beza ESiyoni

11, 12. Chaza izixuku ezibonakala zilibangise eSiyoni.

¹¹ Umphumela walokhu kuqoqwa okwabikezelwa uwukwanda okumangalisayo kwenani labadumisi bakaJehova. Lokhu kubikezelwe ngala mazwi alandelayo esiprofetho. Zibone ngeso lengqondo umi nalona wesifazane ongokwesiprofetho eNtabeni iSiyoni. Lapho ubheka empumalanga, ubonani? “Ubuningi bamakamela buyakukusibekela, amakamela amasha akwaMidiyani nase-Efa; bonke abaseSheba bayakuza, balethe igolide nenhlaka, bamemezele izindumiso zikaJehova.” (Isaya 60:6) Izixuku zabathengisi nohide lwamakamela abo bahamba ezindleleni eziya eJerusalema. Amakamela ungathi isikhukhula esimboze izwe! Abahwebi baphethe izipho eziyigugu, “igolide nenhlaka.” Futhi laba bathengisi beza ekukhanyeni kukaNkulunkulu ukuze bamdumise obala, “bamemezele izindumiso zikaJehova.”

¹² Akubona abathengisi bodwa abahambayo. Nabelusi balibangise eSiyoni. Isiprofetho siqhubeka sithi: “Yonke imihlambi yaseKedari iyakubuthelwa kuwe, nezinqama  zakwaNebayoti ziyakukukhonza.” (Isaya 60:7a) Izizwe ezingabelusi ziya emzini ongcwele ziyonikela ngekhethelo lemfuyo yazo kuJehova. Zize zizinikele zona ngokwazo ukuba zikhonze eSiyoni! UJehova ubamukela kanjani laba bezizwe? UNkulunkulu ngokwakhe uyaphendula: “Zikhuphukele e-altare lami ngokuthanda kwami, ngiyidumise indlu yodumo lwami.” (Isaya 60:7b) UJehova uyamukela ngomusa iminikelo nenkonzo yalaba bezizwe. Ukuba khona kwabo kulenza libe lihle ithempeli.

13, 14. Yini ebonakala iqhamuka entshonalanga?

¹³ Manje phenduka ubhekisise umkhathizwe osentshonalanga. Ubonani? Kude lé, kukhona okungathi ifu elimhlophe eliphezu kolwandle. UJehova ubuza wona kanye lo mbuzo ozibuza wona: “Ngobani laba abandiza njengefu, nanjengamajuba aya ezidlekeni zawo, na?” (Isaya 60:8) UJehova uwuphendula yena lo mbuzo: “Iziqhingi ziyangihlalela, imikhumbi yaseTharishishi kuqala, ukuletha amadodana akho evela kude, enesiliva negolide lawo kulo igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho nakoNgcwele kaIsrayeli, ngokuba uyakudumisa.”—Isaya 60:9.

¹⁴ Uyakubona lokhu ngeso lengqondo? Lelo fu elimhlophe selisondele, sekungathi liyifu lamachashazi akude le entshonalanga. Ungathi izinyoni ezintweza phezu kwamagagasi. Kodwa njengoba lisondela, uyabona ukuthi yimikhumbi evule oseyili ukuze ithole umoya. Imikhumbi elibangise eJerusalema miningi kangangokuba ungathi umhlambi wamajuba. Leli viyo livela emathekwini akude, liphuthuma eJerusalema, lilethe amakholwa azokhulekela uJehova.

 Inhlangano KaJehova Iyanda

15. (a) Amazwi ka-Isaya 60:4-9 abikezela kuphi ukwanda? (b) AmaKristu angempela abonisa muphi umoya?

¹⁵ Yeka umfanekiso ocacile ongokwesiprofetho owakhiwa amavesi 4 kuya ku-9 wokwanda komhlaba wonke okuye kwenzeka kusukela ngo-1919! Kungani uJehova abusisa iSiyoni ngokwanda okungaka? Kungoba kusukela ngo-1919, u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu uye walalela, waqhubeka enza ukukhanya kwakhe kukhanye. Uphawulile yini kodwa ukuthi, ngokwevesi-7, laba abasanda kufika ‘bakhuphukela e-altare likaNkulunkulu’? I-altare liyindawo okwenziwa kuyo imihlatshelo, futhi lesi sici sesiprofetho sisikhumbuza ukuthi ukukhonza uJehova kuhilela ukuzinikela. Umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “[Ngiyanincenga] . . . ukuba nethule imizimba yenu ingumhlatshelo ophilayo, ongcwele, owamukelekayo kuNkulunkulu, uyinkonzo engcwele ngamandla enu okucabanga.” (Roma 12:1) Ngokuvumelana namazwi kaPawulu, amaKristu angempela awaneliswa nje ukumane aye ezinkonzweni ezimbalwa kanye ngesonto. Anikela ngesikhathi, amandla nengcebo yawo ukuze athuthukise ukukhulekela okumsulwa. Ukuba khona kwabakhulekeli abanjalo abazinikele akuyenzi yini ibe yinhle indlu kaJehova? Isiprofetho sika-Isaya sathi kwakuyoyenza. Futhi singaqiniseka ukuthi abakhulekeli abanjalo abashisekayo nabo bahle emehlweni kaJehova.

16. Ezikhathini zasendulo, obani abafaka isandla emsebenzini wokwakha, futhi ezikhathini zanamuhla obani abaye benza kanjalo?

¹⁶ Laba abafikayo bafuna ukusebenza. Isiprofetho siqhubeka sithi: “Abezinye izizwe empeleni bayakuzakha izingange zakho, amakhosi abo akukhonze.” (Isaya 60:10) Ekugcwalisekeni kokuqala kwala mazwi kudala ngesikhathi sokubuya ekuthunjweni eBabiloni, amakhosi nabanye bezizwe basiza ngokoqobo ekwakhiweni kabusha kwethempeli nomuzi waseJerusalema. (Ezra 3:7; Nehemiya 3:26) Ekugcwalisekeni kwanamuhla, isixuku esikhulu siye sasekela insali egcotshiwe ekwakheni ukukhulekela kweqiniso. Siye sasiza ekwakheni amabandla obuKristu, ngaleyo ndlela saqinisa “izingange” zenhlangano kaJehova enjengomuzi. Sihlanganyela nasemsebenzini wokwakha ongokoqobo—ukwakhiwa kwamaHholo OMbuso, amaHholo Omhlangano, nezakhiwo zaseBethel. Ngazo zonke lezi zindlela sisekela abafowabo abagcotshiwe ekunakekeleni izidingo zenhlangano kaJehova ekhulayo!

17. Iyiphi enye yezindlela uJehova enza ngazo abantu bakhe babe bahle?

¹⁷ Yeka indlela akhuthaza ngayo amazwi okugcina ka-Isaya 60:10! UJehova uthi: “Noma ngakushaya ngentukuthelo yami, sengiyakuhawukela ngomusa wami.” Yebo, kudala ngo-1918 no-1919, uJehova wabayala abantu bakhe. Kodwa lokho sekwadlula. Manje yisikhathi sokuba uJehova abonise isihe ezincekwini zakhe ezigcotshiwe nabangane bazo abangezinye izimvu. Ubufakazi balokhu buwukwanda okungavamile aye ababusisa ngako, njengokungathi ‘ubenza babe bahle.’

18, 19. (a) Yisiphi isithembiso uJehova asenza mayelana nabasha abangena enhlanganweni yakhe? (b) Amavesi asele ka-Isaya isahluko 60 asitshelani?

¹⁸ Unyaka ngamunye, amakhulu ezinkulungwane abanye “abezizwe” azihlanganisa nenhlangano kaJehova, futhi nabanye abengeziwe basenethuba lokuwalandela. UJehova uthi eSiyoni: “Amasango akho ayakuvuleka njalo, awayikuvalwa imini nobusuku, ukuze imfuyo yezizwe ilethwe kuwe, amakhosi azo eqhutshwa  eboshiwe.” (Isaya 60:11) Abanye abaphikisi bayazama ukuwavala lawo “masango,” kodwa siyazi ukuthi ngeke baphumelele. UJehova ngokwakhe uthe amasango ayohlala evulekile ngandlela-thile. Ukwanda kuzoqhubeka.

¹⁹ Kusekhona nezinye izindlela uJehova ababusise ngazo abantu bakhe, wabenza baba bahle, kulezi zinsuku zokugcina. Amavesi asele ka-Isaya 60 embula ngeziprofetho ukuthi yiziphi lezo zindlela.

Ungachaza?

• Ngubani ‘owesifazane’ kaNkulunkulu, futhi umelelwa obani emhlabeni?

• Abantwana beSiyoni babelele nini já, futhi ‘basukuma’ nini futhi kanjani?

• Esebenzisa imifuziselo ehlukene, uJehova wakubikezela kanjani ukwanda kwanamuhla kwabamemezeli boMbuso?

• UJehova uye wakwenza kanjani ukukhanya kwakhe kwakhanya kubantu bakhe namuhla?

[Imibuzo Yesifundo]

[Isithombe ekhasini 10]

‘Owesifazane’ kaJehova utshelwa ukuba asukume

[Isithombe ekhasini 12]

Iqembu lemikhumbi ungathi amajuba emkhathizwe